Stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus



Aug. 7, 1956 R. e. FORDYCE 2,757,607

7 STENCIL SCREEN SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING APPARATUS Oyiginal Filed May 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

6731a ca R. G. FORDYCE 2,757,607

STENCIL SCREEN SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Shet 2 a rill Aug. 7, 1956 Original Filed May 12, 1949 INVENTOR.

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STENCIL SCREEN SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTI NG APPARATUS Original Filed May 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 \WIE IN V EN TOR.

1? 6 jfa yce ig a United States Patent STENCIL SCREEN SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING APPARATUS Rufus G. Fordyce, Glencoe, Ill., assignor to Luminous Processes, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Original application May 12, 1949, Serial No. 92,851, now Patent No. 2,662,470, dated December 15', 1953. and this application July 10, 1952, Serial No.

12 Claims. (Cl. 101--127.1)

My invention relates to stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus. This application is a division of my earlier application filed May 12, 1949, Serial No. 92,851, and entitled Stenciling Machine, now matured into Patent No. 2,662,470.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus which allows the screen to be universally moved.

Another object of my invention is to provide a stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus which is capable of minutely adjusting the screen position so that even the finest work can be stenciled with extreme accuracy.

Another object is to provide stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus that is simple in construction and conveniently operated.

Another object of my invention is to provide stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus which is manually operable to move the stencil screen and to bring the pattern therein into perfect register with the work-pieces.

Another object of my invention is to provide stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus which enables the screen to be accurately positioned and locked against movement.

A further object of my invention is to provide screen supporting and adjusting apparatus wherein the screen may be tautly mounted.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent as the description proceeds and is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a stencil machine with parts broken away to show the general disposition of the stencil screen and stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the lower sub-unit f the stenciling machine, and shows the general arrangement of the stencil screen and supporting and adjusting apparatus;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatu's, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View of a portion of the stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus, taken on line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of another part of the stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus; and

Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus.

Figure 1 shows a stenciling machine, generally designated 20, particularly adapted for stenciling luminous indicia on watch, clock, or other dialsand having an upper or squeegee operating sub-unit 22 and a lower or work handling sub-unit 24. A squeegee 26 is carried on Patented Aug. 7, 1956 the lower end of shaft 28 which is rotatable and axially movable. The squeegee is mounted above a stencil screen 30, while a rotatable turntable 32, having a plurality of spaced work holders 34, is disposed adjacent the opposite or lower side of the screen. Means are provided in the lower sub-unit 24 for rotating turntable 32 to bring work holders 34 into a rest position under screen 30 and then raise work holders 34 from the plane of turntable 32 into contact with the lower side of screen 30. Means are also provided in the upper sub-unit 22 for moving squeegee 26 and shaft 28 toward screen 30 to a stenciling position and away from screen 30 to a paint spreading position, and for rotating the squeegee and shaft in each of these positions.

The operation of the stenciling machine is as follows: While turntable 32 is rotating to bring a work holder 34 carrying unprinted dials under screen 30, squeegee 26 is rotated in its paint spreading position to evenly spread a film of paint over the upper surface of screen 30; after the turntable comes to rest the work holder 34 is moved upwardly into contact with screen 30, and squeegee 26 is moved downwardly to its paint applying position; the squeegee is rotated to force paint through the stencil screen onto the Work carried by work holder 34; and the work holder carrying the printed dials and squeegee are returned to their initial position. The stenciling machine is then in condition to repeat the stenciling operation.

When the work carried by the work holder 34 is in position to be stenciled, turntable 32 is positively locked against rotation and the work holder is fixed against adjustment in a plane parallel to the stencil screen. Thus the work which is fixedly secured on the work holder will be held against movement relative to the stencil screen. The stencil screen will have patterns cut therein, conforming with the indicia to be stenciled on the work. These patterns must perfectly register with the work carried by the work holders in order to produce finished products with the stencil lettering or numbering properly disposed thereon. To obtain perfect registry between the screen and work the screen must be adjustable rotationally and in normal directions linearly. The stencil screen screen includes three adjusting plates supported from the under side of table 38. These plates are best seen individually in Fig. 8. The three plates are an upper adjusting plate 42, an inner adjusting plate 44, and a lower adjusting plate 46. The upper plate 42 is in the form of a generally square open frame and is tapered along edges 48 and 50.

A transversely extending bracket 52 (Figs. 2 and 3) is staked to the under side of the table 38 adjacent its front end by means of countersunk cap screws. This bracket supports a jib 54. Along its rear edge a pair of transversely extending jibs 56 (Fig. 2) are staked to the under side of the table 38. The jibs may be made from brass or other suitable bearing metal, and the front jib 54 and rear fixed jibs 56 are tapered complementary to the front and rear tapered edges, respectively, of the upper plate 42. These jibs form a support for the upper plate along which it is slidable transversely of the table 38. To provide for adjustments of the space between the jibs the front jib 54 is preferably adjustable fore and aft of the bracket 52 by means of set screws 58, extending from the front side of the bracket. Preferably brass wear 3 plates, one of which is seen at 60 in Fig. 3, are fixed to the top side of the upper plate 42 to hold the same in spaced relation to the table 38.

The upper plate 42 is moved transversely of the table by an adjusting screw 62 (Figs. 2 and 4) having a hand knob 63 fixed on its outer end. This screw extends through and has threaded engagement with a two-piece block 64 separable on the horizontal diametrical plane of the screw aperture formed between the two parts. The upper portion of the block is staked to one side of the table 38 by means of countersunk cap screws. The lower portion is staked to this upper portion (Fig. 4). Thus when the adjusting screw 62 is turned by means of its hand knob it will advance or retract in a transverse direction relative to the table, depending upon the direction in which it is turned.

Adjacent its inner end the adjusting screw 62 is rotatable in a cylindrical recess formed in part in the under side of the upper plate 42, and in part in an anchor block 66 (Fig. 4), staked to the under side of the upper plate. A circumferential rib 68 on the inner end of screw 62 is received in a complementary groove in the recess formed between the upper plate and the anchor block. The upper adjusting plate and adjusting screw are thus connected together so that the upper plate is moved transversely relative to the table whenever screw 62 is turned.

The mounting for the lower adjusting plate includes a jib supporting angular bracket 70, secured by countersunk cap screws (Figs. 2 and 4) to the under side of the upper adjusting plate 42 along its lower side edge, as seen in Fig. 2. This bracket adjustably supports a jib 72 (Fig. 4) in the same manner that the jib 54 of the upper adjusting plate is supported. On the under side of the upper adjusting plate 42 jibs 74 are staked on each side of the anchor block 66. The jibs 72 and 74 have inwardly tapered faces upon which complementary tapered opposite side edges 76 (Fig. 8) on the lower adjusting plate 46 engage. The lower adjusting plate is thus supported from the upper adjusting plate 42, and is slidable in a fore and aft direction relative thereto. Inasmuch as lower plate is carried by the upper plate it moves transversely with the latter when the latter is adjusted.

Fore and aft movement is imparted to the lower adjusting plate by an adjusting screw 78 (Figs. 2 and 3) having a hand knob 79 on its outer end. This screw passes through a recess 80 on the under side of the front jib 54 (Fig. 3) secured beneath the front side of the table 38. It is threadedly engaged at 81 with a recess formed in part in the under side of the upper adjusting plate 42, and in part in a block 82 staked to the under side of this plate by means of cap screws.

The inner end of the adjusting screw 78 has a circumferential rib 86 received in a complemental groove in the recess formed between the lower plate 46 and guide member 84 attached thereto. Thus when the adjusting screw 78 is turned it will be advanced or retracted relative to the upper adjusting plate 42, depending on the direction it is turned, and will advance or retract the lower adjusting plate. Wear plates, one of which is seen at 88 in Fig. 4, may be secured to the under side of the upper adjusting plate 42 adjacent its opposite side edges. These wear plates space the upper and lower adjusting plates.

The upper and lower adjusting plates just described provide for transverse and for fore and aft adjustment of the stencil screen 30. The inner adjusting plate 44, now to be described, provides for angular or rotational adjustment of the stencil screen. This plate is of ringlike shape, as seen in Fig. 8, and has four equidistant spaced projections 90on its outer periphery, and arcuate portions 92 extending therebetween. These arcuate portions 92 rest upon apexes of four rectangularly arranged, inwardly projecting triangular formations 94 on the inner edges of lower adjusting plate 46 (Fig. 8). The inner plate is the confines of the inner sides of the upper 1 ts 42 adjusting p a l The inner plate 44 is held in position relative to the lower plate by oppositely disposed hub caps or guide members 96 (Fig. 8), and by the guide member 84 (Fig. 3) previously mentioned. This latter guide member has an arcuate inner edge 98 concentric with the arcuate portions of the inner plate. A flange 100 on this arcuate edge engages the top side of the inner plate 44 loosely to hold the plate upon the lower adjusting plate 46. The guide members 96 are staked to the top side of the lower adjusting plate at the apexes of the triangular formations 94 on opposite sides of the lower adjusting plate. These guide members 96 each have an arcuate inwardly facing edge similar to the arcuate edge of the guide member 84 and concentric with the arcuate portions 92 of the inner plate. A flange 101 on these guide members (Fig. 8) engages loosely with the top side of the inner plate 44 to hold the same upon the lower plate.

The inner adjusting plate is rotated in opposite directions by a worm 102 which engages gear teeth 104 formed on the outer edge of the rear arcuate part of the inner plate (Figs. 2 and 7). Worm 102 is fixed upon a shaft 106 which is rotatable in bearing blocks 108 fixed to the top side of the lower adjusting plate 46 by means of screws. These bearing blocks have flanged arcuate inwardly facing edges which engage the rear arcuate portion of the inner plate to hold the same in position. The outer end of shaft 106 projects through an opening in the side of the upper adjusting plate 42, and has a hand knob 107 on its outer end for turning the same. From the above description it will be apparent that the bearing blocks 108, together with guide members 84 and 96, secure the inner plate 44 against lateral movement relative to lower plate 46, but do not impede angular or rotational movement of this inner plate.

Since the inner adjusting plate 44 is carried by the lower adjusting plate 46, it will move in a fore and aft direction whenever the lower adjusting plate is adjusted. Moreover, since the lower adjusting plate is carried by the upper adjusting plate 42, and moves transversely with it, the inner plate will also be moved transversely when the upper adjusting plate is adjusted. Thus the inner adjusting plate moves with every adjustment of the upper or lower plates, and is movable angularly relative to the upper and lower plates. Since the stencil screen 30 is carried by a frame 110 attached to the inner adjusting plate 44, the screen will be moved whenever any one of the plates is moved and by an amount corresponding to the movement of the plate and in the same direction as the plate is moved.

The screen frame 110 (Fig. 8) is generally square and of angle iron construction. It has a horizontal flange 112, with apertures 113 located at its four corners. On the under side of the flange 112, aligned with these apertures,.

a threaded nut or sleeve 114 (Fig. 5) is welded to the frame 110.

The frame 110 is fixed to the under side of the inner adjusting plate 44 by four screws 116 (Figs. 2 and 5) having knurled heads 117. These screws have lower reduced ends which pass through enlarged apertures 118 in the four projections 90 (Fig. 8) on the periphery of the inner adjusting plate, and are threaded into the threaded sleeve 114 at the four corners of the frame 110. Enlarged washers 120 (Fig. 5) abutting against the shoulder at the base of the reduced portion of the screw.

engage the top side of the inner adjusting plate 44 when the screws are tightened. As a result the frame 110 is firmly drawn against the under side of the inner adjusting plate 44. Small adjustments in the position of the screen frame relative to the inner plate can be made by virtue of the fact that the apertures 118 are larger than the reduced portion of screws 116.

Releasable means is also provided for immovably clamping the three adjusting plates for the screen to the under side of the table. Table 38 has four arcuate-shaped,

equidistantly-spaced apertures 122, disposed around the circular central opening therein. Inverted U-shaped clamping members 124 on the upper side of, the table straddle openings 122 (Figs. 2, and 6). These clamping members are each fixed intermediate their ends. to the intermediate part of the clamping screws 126 in such a manner that the screws may be rotated relative to the clamping members, but'the latter are held against end wise movement relative to the screws. The lower ends of these screws extend through the arcuate openings 122 and are threaded into one or the other of two apertures 128 (Fig. 8) in the four projections 90 on the inner adjusting plate 44.

On their outer ends the screws 126 have hand knobs for turning the same. When they are tightened the threeadjusting plates are drawn firmly against the under side of the table, and may thus be locked against movement after they have been properly adjusted. A convenient means is thus provided for locking the adjusting plates at a desired position of adjustment. Furthermore, due to the fact that the clamping screws 126 may engage in either of the openings 128 in the inner plate 44, the possible range of adjustment of the adjusting plates is increased.- Moreover, the relatively large area of the arcuate open-1 ing 122 through which the supporting screws 116 and clamping screws 126 extend, provides room for a rela tively wide range of adjustment of the position of the stencil screen frame 110 angularly, transversely, and-in a fore and aft direction.

The stencil screen may be of any of the mesh materials commonly used in stencil screens, and is cut somewhat larger in dimensions than the frame so that the peripheral edges of the screen may be drawn up alongthe under side of the horizontal flanges 112 on the screen frame (Figs. 3 and 4). A metal edging strip-129 maybe doubled around each of the peripheral edges of the screen and secured thereto to prevent fraying. Each edge strip has apertures adapted to register with aperturesin the horizontal flanges 112 on the screen frame. The screen is drawn taut against the bottom edges of the frame 110 by means of cap screws 131 which extend through the apertures in the edging strips on the screen, and are threaded into the registering apertures in the horizontal flanges 112. Preferably an elongated plate.130 is interposed between the heads of the cap screws 131 and the edging strips on the screen to prevent damage to these strips by the screws.

The upper sub-unit 22 of the stenciling machine. isadapted to be tilted relative to the lower sub-unit. When the upper sub-unit is tilted away from table 38, the stencil screen 30 may be viewed from directly above. An operator may then adjust the position of the screen by aligning the previous areas or pattern in the screen with. Since the work on the work holder under the screen. screen may be universally adjusted, perfect alignment between the pattern and the work can be obtained by rotating screw 62 to move the screen in a transverse direction; by rotating screw 78 to move the screen in a fore and aft direction; by rotating shaft 106 to rotate thescreen; or by simultaneously rotating all or but two of thescrews and shaft.

After the screen has been brought into alignment with the work to be printed, the adjustingplates are locked in place on the table by means of screws 126. As previously mentioned, if the range of movement is not sumciently wide to align the screen with the work, screws 126 may be threaded into other openings 128 in the inner plate 44.

Table 38 may be secured to the upper sub-unit 22 and tilted with the upper sub-unit relative to the lower subunit. Since the stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus is carried on table 38, tilting the table will expose the lower side of the screen supporting apparatus and thereby enable the stencil screen to be changed by removing screws 131 from the screen frame 110 and strip 129. Tilting the table also provides ready access d to the various operating mechanisms of the stencil screen and adjusting apparatus exposc'dlbelow table 38.

From the foregoing description it should be obvious that I have provided a stencil screen supporting and adjust.- ing device which provides universal movement of the screen so that the pattern on the screen maybe perfectly aligned with the work to be stenciled, which is easily,

linearly in a directionat' right angles to the direction of adjustment of said first frame, a .third open frame supported for rotational adjustment, independent manually operable means for rotating said third frame and formoving. said first and second frames in their respective direc-. tions of adjustment, an open stencil screen frame fixed to said third frame, means for interconnecting said frames so that adjustment of any one of said frames moves the stencil screen frame correspondingly, and releasable means for immovably clamping said of adjustment.

2.,An adjustable stencilscreen holder for a stenciling frames at a desired position machine comprising relatively movable adjustable mem-- bers each supported for movement in adirection different from the direction of movement of the others but in a substantially common plane therewith, a stencil screen.

supported from one of said members, means for interconnecting said adjustable members so that, adjustment of anyone of the individual members effects adjustment of the sten'cil screen correspondingly, .means for adjusting each 'of said adjustable members to effect adjustment of said stencil screen angularly and linearly in normal directions, a frame for said machine," work holding means in said frame, a table on said frame for supporting saidadjustable members, said table being hinged to said frame for movement to a position at which said adjustable members'are exposed, and positioning means on said frame and table cooperating accurately to locate the table relative to the work holding means when the table is moved to operative position.

3. An adjustable stencil screen holder for a steneiling machine having a frame and a table on said frame comprising relatively movable adjustable members supported by said table for movement in a common plane, a stencil screen frame supported by one of said adjustable members, means for interconnecting said adjustable members so'that adjustment of any one of the individual memberseffects adjustment of the stencil screen frame corre-.: spondingly, means for adjusting each of said adjustable members to effect adjustment of said screen frame an-' gularly and linearly in normal directions, fmanually op-- erable clamping screws adapted to be secured 'at' substantially equidistantly placed points to the adjustable member carrying said stencil screen frame, and clamping means cooperating with said clampingscrews and table to draw said adjustable members into firm engagement with said table when said clamping screws are tightened,-

said table having enlarged apertures through which said clamping screws are adapted to extend to provide space' for movement of said screws relative to said table when the adjustable members are adjusted.

4. In stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus, a first plate supported for adjustment linearly in one direction, a second plate spaced from said first plate and supported thereby for adjustment in a direction at right angles to the direction of adjustment of said first plate, a third plate nested between said first and second plates and supported for rotational adjustment, means for con necting a stencil screen to one of said plates, and meansv for adjusting each of said plates to provide universal movement for said stencil screen.

In stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus, a first plate supported for adjustment linearly in one direction, a second plate spaced from said first plate and supported thereby for adjustment in a direction at right angles to the direction of adjustment of said first plate, a third plate nested between said first and second plates and supported for rotational adjustment, means for connecting a stencil screen to one of said plates, means for adjusting each of said plates to provide universal movement for said stencil screen, and guide members to hold said third plate against translational movement relative to said second plate.

6. In stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus, a first plate supported for adjustment linearly in one direction, a second plate spaced from said first plate and supported thereby for adjustment in a direction at right angles to the direction of adjustment of said first plate, a third plate nested between said first and second plates and supported for rotational adjustment, means for connecting a stencil screen to one of said plates, means for adjusting each of said plates to provide universal movement for said stencil screen, guide members to hold said third plate against translational movement relative to said second plate, said plates having open centers, and projecting formations extending inwardly of the open center of said second plate upon which said third plate is seated.

7. In stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus for a stenciling machine having a table provided with arcuate openings, a first plate supported by said table therebelow for adjustment linearly in one direction, a second plate supported by said first plate for adjustment in a direction at right angles to the direction of adjustment of said first plate, a third plate movable with said first and second plates and supported for rotational adjustment, a frame carrying a ste'ncil screen, bolts securing said frame to said third plate and extending through enlarged holes in said second plate into said arcuate openings in said table, screws extending into said arcuate openings and engaging said third plate whereby said stencil screen may be moved within the limits of said enlarged holes when said bolts are loosened and said plates and stencil plates may be locked against movement relative to said table by tightening said screws, and means for adjusting each of said plates to provide universal movement for said screen.

8. In stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus for a stenciling machine having a table, a first plate, first jibs disposed along opposite edges of said first plate and slidably supporting said first plate from said table for adjustment linearly in one direction, a second plate, second jibs disposed along other opposite edges of said first plate and slidably supporting said second plate on said first plate for adjustment in a direction at right angles to the direction of adjustment of said first plate, a third plate supported for rotational movement by said first and second plates, means connecting a stencil screen to said plates, and means for adjusting each of said plates to provide universal movement for said screen.

9. In stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus for a stenciling machine having a table, a first plate supported by said table for adjustment linearly in one direction, a first shaft threadably engaging said table and rotatably engaging said first plate, a second plate supported by said first plate for adjustment in a direction at right angles to the direction of adjustment of said first plate, a second shaft threadably engaging said first plate and rotatably engaging said second plate, a third plate having gear teeth thereon supported for rotation by said first and second plates, a third shaft carrying a gear engaging said gear teeth on said third plate, said shaft being rotated to move said plates angularly and linearly in normal directions, and a stencil screen carried on one of said plates.

10. Stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus for a stenciling machine comprising a first plate support for adjustment linearly in one direction, a second plate spaced from said first plate and supported thereby for adjustment in a direction at right angles to the direction of adjustment of said first plate, a third plate nested between said first and second plates and supported for rotational adjustment, a frame having an open center, said frame being connected with one of said plates and having vertical sides and a horizontal flange disposed around the circumference of said frame, a stencil screen having larger dimensions than said frame, metal strips folded around each edge of the screen, means to secure said edges of said screen and strips to said horizontal flange to draw said screen taut across said open center and against said vertical sides of said frame, and means for adjustingeach of said adjustable plates to effect adjustment ofsaid screen.

11. In stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus, a first member supported for adjustment linearly in one direction, a second member supported by said first member for adjustment in a direction at right angles to the direction of adjustment of said first member, a third member supported by said second member for rotational adjustment, means for connecting a stencil screen to said third member, and means for adjusting each of said members to provide universal movement for said stencil screen.

12. In stencil screen supporting and adjusting apparatus, a first member supported for adjustment, a second member supported by said first member for adjustment relative thereto, a third member supported by said second member for adjustment relative thereto, one of said members being adjustable linearly in one direction, another of said members being adjustable linearly in a direction at right angles to said one direction, and the other of said members being rotatably adjustable, means for connecting a stencil screen to one of said members. and means for adjusting each of said members to provide universal movement for said stencil screen.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,495,037 Patterson May 20, 1924 1,600,236 Marquardt Sept. 21, 1926 1,892,268 Flockhart Dec. 27, 1932 2,218,451 Heyne Oct. 15, 1940 2,605,700 Martin Aug. 5, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 495,071 Germany Apr. 2, 1930 674,737 Germany Apr. 21, 1939 

